Who Is the Prophet Muhammad ?

Muhammad
was born in Makkah in the year 570. Since his
father died before his birth and his mother died shortly thereafter, he was
raised by his uncle who was from the respected tribe of Quraysh. He was raised
illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained so till his death. His people,
before his mission as a prophet, were ignorant of science and most of them were
illiterate. As he grew up, he became known to be truthful, honest, trustworthy,
generous, and sincere. He was so trustworthy that they called him the
Trustworthy.1 Muhammad
was very religious, and he had long detested
the decadence and idolatry of his society.

The Prophet Muhammadís Mosque in Madinah.

At the age of forty, Muhammad
received his first revelation from God through
the Angel Gabriel. The revelations continued for twenty-three years, and they
are collectively known as the Quran.

As soon as he began to recite the Quran and to
preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of
followers suffered persecution from unbelievers. The persecution grew so fierce
that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This emigration from
Makkah to the city of Madinah, some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning
of the Muslim calendar.

After several years, Muhammad
and his followers were able to return to Makkah,
where they forgave their enemies. Before Muhammad
died, at the age of sixty-three, the greater
part of the Arabian Peninsula had become Muslim, and within a century of his
death, Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China. Among the
reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the truth and clarity of
its doctrine. Islam calls for faith in only one God, Who is the only one worthy
of worship.

The Prophet Muhammad
was a perfect example of an honest, just,
merciful, compassionate, truthful, and brave human being. Though he was a man,
he was far removed from all evil characteristics and strove solely for the sake
of God and His reward in the Hereafter. Moreover, in all his actions and
dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of God.